Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-04

Farming does not mean SIMPLY stlrrlhs ]
the soil sowing the seed aud harvesting the /
crops. but from the beginning of the year /
to its end there should he "a constant pro. !
duction in every possible manner While |
the crops are growing the future food Is
being prepared. but as soon as it is harvest
ed il should be made still more serviceuhe |
hv being converted into some higher-p priced !
product While an acre of land may pro
duce fiftv bushels of corn ON its part yet
that corn may nearly all find It's way back
To- the soil that produced it, only that por
ton being sold that will repay the cost and
labor of converting 1t into beef. mutton,
pork, wool. milk muscle or whatever it
may contribute The farmer who can So
manage as to secure the largest crops. and
return to his soil the larger portion by dis
posing of that which is more readily salable
in some other shape, will gradually become
wealthy, though the actual receipts may he
| apparently small
Farming is continuous operation II Is
the changing of products from one kind TO
/ another according to the demand for each.
/ In estimating the value Of "a bushel of corn
/ produced on the farm. and fed to stock 1t
| must be regarded as cheaper to the farmer
| than to other persons. since he does not have
| to transport it to market and when charg
/ ing it to his animals as food he should de
duct from the market cost the expense
| which he would otherwise incur for bag
cling. handling, hauling and freight. The
| true value of the corn Is that which It pro
duces The rule of charging interest for
| the corn as a crop. and also on the beef or
milk derived from it. often causes the ac-
| counts to appear unfavurahle II is the
final disposition of the crop that regulate,
its value If it disappears from the farm
I'M the carcass of the steer it stands I'm the
same position as if the steer grew upon the
land instead of the corn. the corn being
only a component part of the steer III the
shape of marketable beef IT the crop be
fed to the COW and the milk sold of the
farm the crop is simply sent away in the
milk cans in place of bags, and, instead of
being compelled TO sell the entire crop in
| order to realize "a certain sum, the change
| of form bv conversion INTO some other prod
net results III the securing of an equal sum
from only a portion Of the crop. Hence
the farmer should aim to sell as little a>
possible OFF the farm. That is he should
endeavor TO secure the largest sum possible
2 with the smallest amount of product by
I converting all crops into those that are less
s bulky and command the higher prices. But
the farming business requires system. 1t
call for the use of all kinds of suitable ma
chinery and stock As no manufacturer of
- cotton goods can afford 20 weave his goods
with hand-ooms. neither can the farmer eX
, pect to make farming profitable unless h,
4, takes advantage of all opportunities open
10 him. If his crops are To be fed on th'
farm and rendered serviceable in PRODUCING
5 something else through the agency of stock
e. such stock must be perfectly adapted to thu
a purposes designed The largest possibl
= increase at the least cost and in the short
est period of time should be the rule am
T. upon this depend, the turning point be
II tween profit and loss -lhiddel phiG Record